From July 5th to the 8th, I had the opportunity to instruct a series of Masterclasses at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
During the week we worked on a broad variety of aspects that included a daily hour long warm-up session, where we focused on breathing, buzzing, tone production, flexibility and scales (all warm-up exercises discussed are available on this website, under Resources).
Following the warm-up, we had 45 minute masterclasses, covering solo repertoire including, Serocki’s Sonatina, Grondahl’s Concerto, Bozza’s Ballade, Marcello’s Sonata in F Major, David’s Concertino, Ewazen’s Sonata, and others. We discussed issues that ranged from interpretation of music, to compositional breathing challenges, to technical prowess.
Additionally, we worked together on chamber music and low brass orchestral excerpts, covering among others, Mahler 2nd, Tchaikovsky 6th, Bruckner 4th, Brahms 1st and 4th symphonies.
On the last day we played a concert at the Conservatory’s Auditorium with all the materials we prepared during the week of the course.
It is always a pleasurable experience teaching this group of great and talented students who are preparing careers in the same manner as my own formation and in a location that holds special meaning to me. It was a fantastic and emotional week and we hope to continue the tradition in future. Everyone put forth tremendous effort, but we also had a lot of fun doing what we love most: Making music!
Special thanks to my teachers Dede Decker and José Antonio Cubas for the organization of the course, and Any Díaz for her accompaniment on the piano. Photography compliments of Alixandra Porembski.
Eloy Panizo Padrón 